Founder of Enzyte producer sentenced

CINCINNATI, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The founder of Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, which makes the drug Enzyte, was sentenced to 25 years in prison by a federal judge in Cincinnati.

U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel ruled Wednesday that Steve Warshak, 42, who was convicted on charges including fraud and money laundering, must begin serving his 25-year sentence within 30 days, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Spiegel said Warshak, whose company is best known for producing the Enzyte male enhancement drug, participated in a lucrative yet illegal scheme out of pure "greed."

"This case is about greed," the judge said. "His family and the people who work for him are also victims of his greed."

A federal jury found that Warshak, his company and several other defendants were guilty of victimizing thousands of their customers by misrepresenting their products, the Enquirer said.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered the defendants to pay more than $500 million to the victims of their scheme.